ROXAS TO GMA: STOP CHA-CHA, DEAL WITH CRISIS FIRST

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today appealed to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to stop moves to amend the Constitution and extend her term of office and to deal first with the impact of the global financial crisis.

Speaking before the 29th National Annual Convention of the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PHAP), Roxas said President Arroyo must promote good governance so the country can cure its social ills that stem from failure of the government to address the "real" needs of the people.

"The country is in an emergency room. We must practice the discipline and focus the prioritization in order to solve the many problems of our country. Our country has never gotten out of the hospital. Laging nasa emergency room, pagkatapos mapupunta sa ICU (intensive care unit), mapupunta sa regular room. Pagkatapos krisis na naman at babalik uli sa emergency room," he said.

Roxas called on the government to focus on the "real" needs of the people to be able to gain back public trust that has eroded through time due to shenanigans like the P728-million fertilizer fund diversion scam at the Department of Agriculture, the "Euro Generals" fund mess and the NBN-ZTE broadband deal.

"This is why I am pushing for good governance dahil sira, wasak ang sistema sa ating bansa. Sa kabila ng napakaraming hamon, gutom, kahirapan at kawalan ng pagkakataon, ang inaatupag ng gobyernong ito ay ang Cha-Cha at term extension. Pinakikita lang nito na out of touch talaga ng gobyerno natin. Iyan ang dahilan kung bakit napakababa ng tingin ng ating kababayan sa gobyerno," he said.

The Ilonggo senator said it is not too late for the government to redeem itself and deliver what the public expects from it.

"It is a sad situation but not irreversible. Hindi iyan nakasulat sa bato. It is up to us, the leaders, the educated people, the professionals to come together and point the way to the government, our leaders on how to fix the country," he said. "We are in serious trouble. That's why we are in the ICU. It is important that we realize where we are so we can make decisions on where to go."

The senator said the public should work together and pressure the government to get into action. "Kailangan magkaisa tayong lahat at pigain ang pamahalaan na aksyunan ang mga problema ng ating bansa. Itigil muna natin ang Cha-Cha, ang pagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan na naging sakit na ng karamihan sa ating mga opisyales," he said.